Updates

The deadline to submit a claim was Friday January 18, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. New claims are no longer being accepted.

On May 18, 2018, the settlement was approved by the Federal Court. Click here to review the reasons of the court. Click here to view the judgment. Click here to view the Notice of Settlement Approval.

On February 22, 2018, a hearing proceeded before the Federal Court in Ottawa for approval of a settlement agreement and the lawyers’ fees.

On July 6, 2015, the Federal Court of Appeal upheld the certification of the class action. Click here to review the reasons of the court. Click here to view the Order (Certification). Click here to view the Notice of Certification.

On March 17, 2014, this action was certified as a class action by the Federal Court. Click here to review the reasons of the court. The decision was appealed by the Defendant to the Federal Court of Appeal.

The certification hearing took place on December 17, 2013 and December 18, 2013 at the Federal Court, in the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario.

An announcement made in a government posting February 19, 2013 said, in part:

Please be advised that the electronic storage device containing personal information of 583,000 Canada Student Loan borrowers who were clients of the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) from 2000-2006 also contained personal information of affected clients who fall outside the 2000-2006 period. Of the individuals affected, 2,800 fall outside the 2000-2006 period and of those 2,600 are in 2007. The department has already communicated with over 1,600 of these affected borrowers. Efforts continue to locate current contact information for all affected borrowers.

On January 11, 2013, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development announced that an external hard drive containing the private details of some 583,000 Canadians went missing. According to the press release, the Government of Canada has known about this since November 5, 2012.

The law firms of Sutts, Strosberg LLP (now Strosberg Sasso Sutts LLP), Charney Lawyers and Branch MacMaster LLP commenced a proposed class action against the Attorney General of Canada on behalf of all persons whose information was lost. Bob Buckingham Law also commenced a proposed class action against the Attorney General of Canada with respect to the same matter. The four law firms have agreed to work together. Two other law firms, Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP and Siskinds LLP commenced proposed class actions against the Attorney General of Canada with respect to the same matter, but each agreed that those actions would be stayed.

Important Updates

The deadline to submit a claim was Friday January 18, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. New claims are no longer being accepted.

$60.00 Payment: It is hoped that approved claims will be processed by the first half of 2019. The Claims Administrator will send out notices to everyone by email who filed a $60.00 claim. Once all the claims are processed, the Claims Administrator will send claimants their payment by electronic transfer.

In the event that the total amount of the approved $60.00 claims by Class Members exceeds the amount of money available for the Settlement Amount, the Payments will be reduced proportionally.

Actual Losses: It is hoped that approved claims will be processed by the first half of 2019. The Claims Administrator will send out notices to everyone by email who filed an actual loss claim. Approved payments will be send by way of cheque.